HOUSTON – As Senior Fraud Awareness Day approaches on Friday, a new study shows Texas ranks in the middle of the pack when it comes to scams targeting older adults.
A report from SmartAsset found Texas is the No. 33 state in the country for reported fraud incidents involving people age 60 and older.
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The study analyzed Federal Trade Commission data and measured how often seniors reported being targeted by fraud and scams.
Key findings for Texas
- Texas recorded 4.3 reported fraud incidents for every 1,000 residents age 60 and older.
- About 6% of all reported fraud cases in Texas involved seniors.
- The most common scams targeting older Texans were business imposter scams, where criminals pretend to represent trusted companies such as banks or credit card providers.
Researchers say business imposter scams often involve fake calls, texts, or emails claiming there is suspicious account activity or urgent payment issues.
States with the highest rates
According to the study, the states with the highest rates of senior fraud reports were:
- Florida
- Delaware
- Nevada
- Georgia
- Maryland
Why experts say seniors are often targeted
Fraud experts say scammers frequently target older adults because many have retirement savings, own homes, and may be more likely to answer phone calls or respond to messages appearing to come from trusted businesses.
The report comes as consumer protection agencies nationwide continue warning about rising scam activity involving AI-generated voices, spoofed phone numbers, and fake customer service agents.